For his thesis project at Shenkar College of Design, Ohad Lustgarten designed a lightweight and flexible shelter to provide protection from the elements. Shade & Shelter is composed of a series of slats connected in the center by a flexible rod. Depending on the weather, the shelter can be extended out or it can be wrapped up and closed to protect from the sun and wind. His prototype was made from cardboard, but he hopes to make a more advanced version that includes rainwater collection, photovoltaics and the ability for the material to expand on its own when heated by the sun.

Ohad Lustgarten was inspired by the natural forms of the oasis, caves and trees when he designed his temporary shelter for his thesis project at Shenkar College of Design in Ramat Gan, Israel. All are considered signs of life in the harsh desert environment and he wanted to recreate that sense of life and provide safety. Shade & Shelter is a temporary shelter for those who need protection from the elements, especially the wind and sun in the desert. But the shelter could also be easily used in other environments and used for hikers in remote locations.

The shelter was designed to be made from extruded polymer slats connected together along a flexible fiberglass pole separated by rubber stoppers. The unit as a whole can stretch out to create a barrier or be wrapped up to provide more protection. Lustgarten’s final thesis design was crafted of cardboard and stands 6 feet tall at its highest point to provide protection while standing and can be encircled and still provide enough space for a small group of people to lay down.

Lustgarten would like to incorporate thin film photovoltaics on the exterior to generate power that could be used for lighting or even charging devices. The slats have also been designed to collect and channel rainwater so inhabitants can have some drinking water. Eventually he would also like to build the shelter out of a class B metal so that it would respond to the heat of the sun and move and flex open as temperatures increased. However if it was too hot, the shelter could still be pulled closed to ensure maximum shade protection.